A caretaker federal minister is trying to use his influence for the selection of his favourite as Chairman of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), a post lying vacant after the retirement of Saeed-uz-Zafar on September 27, 2007.
The sources said the Cabinet Division had received 71 applications for this post, which was advertised in national press, of which 17 candidates were shortlisted.
The prominent shortlisted candidates are Hussain. A. Babar, Director Privatisation (Nepra), former justice Karamat Nazir Bhandari, Mansoor Elahi, a close relative of former Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, Tariq Sadoozai, former Managing Director KESC, Akram Arain, CEO Lesco, Agha Nasir Ali, CEO, Mepco, besides the four incumbent Nepra members.
The federal cabinet in its recent meeting decided that, in future, all the Ministries/Divisions should lay down the tenure and age limit of the Chairmen/CEOs/Members in draft legislation if they are from the private sector. This should be in line with the amendment made in the NCHD Ordinance with regard to their Chairman and Members.
In accordance with the new decision, any Chairman/CEO or Members of the regulatory authorities from the private sector could not be appointed if they have already attained the age of 65 years. The sources said that Chairman/CEO and Members of the Regulatory Authorities shall be appointed for a three-year term and shall be eligible for re-appointment for a similar term only after passing through an open competition afresh.
Nepra as a power sector regulator remained highly controversial due to appointments of retired bureaucrats against the laid down criteria. Nepra Act's Section 3(4) clearly states:
"Every member shall be a professional of known integrity and competence with at least fifteen years of related experience in law, business, engineering finance, accounting, economics or electric utility business." The sources said that in the past, retired bureaucrats have been appointed purely on the basis of personal relations and political influence.
One thing is very common amongst the present and former bureaucrats, whose appointment totally ignored regulations, as they had neither 15 years experience nor the requisite educational qualification. The sources said that a three-member committee comprising Secretary Cabinet Division, Secretary Establishment and Secretary Water and Power is also examining the recruitment process.